Who wins this banger ? Is this a repeat of Basilio's fight with Gavilan, or does Basilio pull the trick here against a smaller, less "outbrawlable" (as McGrain would put it) and more cuttable fighter than the Cuban Hawk ?
The question here, I think, hinges on whether Napoles can avoid being disrupted by the Basillio jab. He'd also be up against a bigger man who was hard as nails. If he cannot deal with these elements then it could spell trouble. However, I like Napoles for it because I envisage he does work out Basillio's offensive and fuses this into his own tempo. He might score heavily from thereon, using Basillio's offense against him since the Onion Farmer did stick his face out there a bit - But Basillio is no joke in this one, either. Tight call - I'd back Napoles, in spirit; not in hard cash.
I've seen alot of Napoles but not alot of Basilio. What I will say is that Napoles did struggle against some fighters you'd of expected him to beat convincingly. People say Backus was lucky to cut Napoles but that's not the way I see it. It was a back and forth war for 3 rounds a Hearns/Hagler type war. And Backus was giving Napoles all he could handle and then some even if the cut shortening the fight was a bit unfortunate. Muniz an aggressive come forward fighter was horribly robbed vs Napoles in their 1st meeting. In one of the most shameful things I've seen in a major world title fight. Napoles at his best was mesmerising the Cokes fight in particular was a masterpiece. But Napoles wasn't always firing on all cylinders as the 2 examples I showed above show. Not to mention Napoles cut very easily aswell. I'd favour Napoles at his best but if Napoles turns up like he did vs Muniz the 1st time for example then Basilio could definitely win.
Napoles Decision, but in a very tough fight. As usual there's a chance of him getting stopped on cuts but I think he'd be able to just barely last the distance.
Basilio isn't an easy night for anyone including Napoles. Barring any bad cuts i would back Napoles to win a UD in a tough fight. Basilio was as tough as they came.
Hi Guys. As I said in a post a couple of years ago, this is the fight I think about when I am in the dentist chair, it pits two of my favs, who also happen to be two of the greatest, I see this a very close encounter, gun to my head Napoles in a possible blood bath, some have said Basilio would lose by a stoppage by cuts, not for me, for sure he cut, but dont think a fight of his was stopped on that score, unlike Napoles who lost a few like that, I can see the early rounds going the early rounds going the smooth Cubans way, but I feel Carmen would exert immense pressure from 10 onwards in a 15 rounder, so I could very well see Napoles being rescued by the ref, with his face a red mask, around the 13th, but I wouldnt put money on it, very intriguing matchup, props to the OP. stay safe guys, chat soon. Mike.
I'll take Basilio. No doubt Napoles is the better boxer here and will score at will with his left. But I don't think Jose has the power and gets his right involved enough to deter Carmen. Basillio is the stronger man and that pressure wins it for him in the later rounds. Late stoppage or SD Basilio
Hi Devon. With the utmost respect, I don't think any WW in history would find sharing a ring with Basilio as comfortable, far from it. stay safe buddy. Mike.
I thought of you when I saw this thread, Mike. I wondered how you'd feel about two.of your favourites fighting. Excellent post.
Basilio split fights with Johnny Saxton and Billy Graham. I've read about the Saxton fights and I owned a copy of the fight where graham beat Basilio; Graham boxed and maintained distance and, when Basilio got close, threw very sharp punches in close. It made basilio think and he didn't steamroll Graham, who had 15 KOs in 126 fights. Napoles moved very well and he punched much better than either Saxton or graham. I think that Napoles wins a very clear decision.
Hi Greg. You know me well, found it very hard going against Napoles believe me, thought about the outcome for some time, in the end I went for Jose fragile brows letting him down, if he wasn't so prone to getting cut, I would have him winning a torrid 15 rounder, but when stung he resorts to fighting back, and that would cost him up against the craggy rough hewn, iron boned Basilio, there is a thread abounding, about how tough the old timers were, up against the more modern, well if any fighter could hold his own back in the old times, that man would be Basilio, over 30 rounds Sugar Ray couldn't put this battler on the floor, in fact I am not sure he was ever KD, when I had to choose, I felt like Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice. I note you have had a back and forth recently with another poster, unsurprisingly your replies were both courteous and laden with irrefutable logic, you are a beacon of politeness and knowledge, I have been a member for 7 years ( yesterday in fact ) and still admire your written word, long may it continue. stay safe buddy, chat soon. Mike.
